JP5542573B2 - Portable radiography system, program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable radiation imaging apparatus system and a program.

  Patent Document 1 describes a radiation image processing apparatus. According to this, a plurality of images are integrated to obtain one long image.

  Specifically, each marker is detected from three or more radiation images on which two or more markers are imprinted at the time of imaging. And based on the detected marker information, the overlapping area | region in a some radiographic image is determined. In the determined overlapping area, the radiation images are moved so that the positions of the detected markers coincide with each other, and a plurality of aligned radiation images are integrated.

JP 2007-229246 A

  However, in the conventional technique, in order to determine the connection order of images, it is necessary to arrange a marker in an overlapping area of each portable radiation imaging apparatus. It is known that the portable radiation imaging apparatus has a plurality of sizes, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort to change the position of the marker each time when a portable radiation imaging apparatus of a different size is used.

  The subject of this invention is determining the connection order of an image by a simple method, when obtaining a long image using a some portable radiography apparatus.

A portable radiation imaging apparatus system according to claim 1 of the present invention outputs a radiation image by irradiating radiation from the radiation source and irradiating radiation from the radiation source , and overlaps at an end portion to widen an imaging range. And at least two or more portable radiographic apparatuses arranged in such a manner, and an index provided separately for each of the portable radiographic apparatuses between the radiation source and each of the portable radiographic apparatuses , Comparing the size of the index photographed by each portable radiation imaging apparatus by irradiation of radiation from the radiation source, and determining the connection order of the images photographed by each portable radiation imaging apparatus And a discriminating means for performing the processing.

  According to the above configuration, the radiation source irradiates the radiation toward at least two or more portable radiation imaging apparatuses arranged to widen the imaging range. Furthermore, an index is provided between the radiation source and each portable radiographic apparatus, and this index is imaged by each portable radiographic apparatus by irradiation of radiation from the radiation source.

  The determining means compares the size of the captured index to determine the connection order of images captured by each portable radiographic apparatus.

  As described above, when a long image is obtained using a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses, the connection order of the images can be determined by a simple method.

Further, each portable radiographic apparatus is arranged so as to be overlapped at the end of the portable radiographic apparatus and widen the imaging range. That is, by overlapping the end portions of the portable radiographic apparatuses, the distance from each index to each portable radiographic apparatus differs by the thickness of each portable radiographic apparatus. That is, the size of the index imaged by each portable radiographic apparatus changes due to the difference in distance.

  In this manner, the size of the index is changed by overlapping the end portions of the respective portable radiographic apparatuses. Thereby, the discriminating unit can easily discriminate the connection order of images taken by each portable radiographic apparatus.

The portable radiographic apparatus system according to claim 2 of the present invention is the portable radiographic apparatus system according to claim 1 , wherein a support member to which the index is attached is provided between the radiation source and the portable radiographic apparatus. It is characterized by that.

  According to the above configuration, the support member to which the index is attached is provided between the radiation source and the portable radiation imaging apparatus. By attaching the index to the support member in this way, the distance between each portable radiographic apparatus and the index is stabilized. As a result, the size of the index captured by each portable radiographic apparatus is also stabilized, so that the determination unit can easily determine the connection order of images captured by each portable radiographic apparatus.

The portable radiography apparatus system according to claim 3 of the present invention is the portable radiography apparatus system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein each of the indicators has the same shape, and the distance between the portable radiography apparatus and each of the indicators is It is characterized by being different.

  According to the said structure, each parameter | index is made into the same shape, Furthermore, the distance of a portable radiography apparatus and each parameter | index differs. Since each index has the same shape, the index captured by the portable radiography apparatus that is far from the index is large, and the index captured by the portable radiography apparatus that is close to the index is Get smaller.

  Thereby, the discriminating unit can easily discriminate the connection order of images taken by each portable radiographic apparatus.

The portable radiographic apparatus system according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2 , each of the indices has a different size.

  According to the above configuration, since each index has a different size, the index imaged by each portable radiation imaging apparatus also has a different size. Thereby, the discriminating unit can easily discriminate the connection order of images taken by each portable radiographic apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program comprising at least two or more portable radiographic images that are arranged so as to be overlapped at an end portion to widen an imaging range by irradiation of radiation from a radiation source that emits radiation. A comparison means for comparing the magnitude of an index separately provided for each portable radiographic apparatus between the radiation source imaged by the apparatus and each portable radiographic apparatus; Based on the index imaged by the portable radiographic apparatus, the image forming apparatus functions as a determination unit that determines the connection order of images captured by the portable radiographic apparatus.

  According to the said structure, the parameter | index is provided between the radiation source and each portable radiography apparatus. The comparing means compares the magnitudes of the indices imaged by at least two or more portable radiographic apparatuses arranged to widen the imaging range by irradiation of radiation from the radiation source.

  Further, the determining means determines the connection order of the images captured by each portable radiographic apparatus based on the index captured by each portable radiographic apparatus.

  Thus, when a long image is obtained using a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses, the connection order of the images can be determined by a simple method.

  According to the present invention, when a long image is obtained using a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses, the connection order of images can be determined by a simple method.

It is the block diagram which showed the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the portable radiography apparatus, parameter | index, etc. which are used for the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) It is the conceptual diagram which showed the image image | photographed by each portable radiography apparatus used for the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the process in CPU of the console used for the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the portable radiography apparatus used for the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the circuit diagram which showed the portable radiography apparatus used for the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the top view which showed the portable radiography apparatus used for the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the portable radiography apparatus system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  An example of a portable radiation imaging apparatus system and program according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, arrow UP in a figure shows the perpendicular direction upper direction.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable radiographic apparatus system 64 includes a first portable radiographic apparatus 10A (so-called electronic cassette), a second portable radiographic apparatus 10B, and a third portable radiographic apparatus 10C. A radiation source 70 for irradiating them, a support plate 74 as an example of a support member to which an index 76 described later is attached, a first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A, a second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B, And a console 78 that controls the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 </ b> C and the radiation source 70.

  Note that the first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A, the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B, and the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C have the same basic configuration, and therefore, unless otherwise distinguished, the portable radiation imaging apparatus. In the description, the first, second, third, and last alphabetical letters are omitted. The same applies to the components constituting each portable radiation imaging apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a radiation imaging layer 12 is provided inside a housing 18 of the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 (so-called electronic cassette). The radiation imaging layer 12 includes a radiation imaging element 13 having an upper electrode, a semiconductor layer, and a lower electrode, and a scintillator 30 (see FIG. 5) described later. The radiation imaging element 13 includes two pixels 20 each including a sensor unit 14 that receives light and accumulates charges, and a TFT switch 16 that reads the charges accumulated in the sensor unit 14. A large number of dimensions are provided.

  Further, in the radiation imaging element 13, a plurality of scanning wirings 22 for turning on / off the TFT switch 16 and a plurality of signal wirings 24 for reading out electric charges accumulated in the sensor unit 14 intersect each other. Is provided.

  Further, a scintillator 30 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) made of GOS, CsI, or the like is attached to the surface of the radiation imaging element 13. The scintillator 30 includes a light shielding body 31 (see FIG. 5) that shields light generated on the surface opposite to the attached radiation imaging element 13 in order to prevent the generated light from leaking to the outside. Yes.

  In the radiation imaging layer 12, the irradiated radiation such as X-rays is converted into light by the scintillator 30 and irradiated to the sensor unit 14. The sensor unit 14 is configured to accumulate charges by receiving light irradiated from the scintillator 30.

  Further, each signal wiring 24 has an electrical signal (image signal) indicating a radiographic image according to the amount of charge accumulated in the sensor unit 14 by turning on any of the TFT switches 16 connected to the signal wiring 24. Is flowing.

  A plurality of connectors 32 for connection are arranged side by side at one end side in the signal wiring direction of the radiation imaging element 13, and a plurality of connectors 34 are arranged at one end side in the scanning wiring direction. Each signal wiring 24 is connected to a connector 32, and each scanning wiring 22 is connected to a connector 34.

  Further, there is provided a control unit 36 that controls the radiation detection by the radiation imaging layer 12 and the signal processing for the electric signal flowing through each signal wiring 24. The control unit 36 includes a signal detection circuit 42 and a scan signal control circuit. 40.

  The signal detection circuit 42 is provided with a plurality of connectors 46, and one end of a flexible cable 44 is electrically connected to the connectors 46. Further, the other end of the flexible cable 44 is connected to the connector 32, and for each signal wiring 24, an amplification circuit that amplifies an input electric signal is incorporated. With this configuration, the signal detection circuit 42 amplifies and detects the electric signal input from each signal wiring 24 by the amplification circuit, and is stored in each sensor unit 14 as information of each pixel 20 constituting the image. It detects the amount of charge.

  On the other hand, the scan signal control circuit 40 is provided with a connector 48, and one end of a flexible cable 52 is electrically connected to the connector 48. Further, the other end of the flexible cable 52 is connected to the connector 34, and the scan signal control circuit 40 outputs a control signal for turning on / off the TFT switch 16 to each scan line 22. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the portable radiographic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an imaging unit 60 that captures a radiographic image represented by the irradiated radiation. In the imaging unit 60, the radiation imaging layer 12 is disposed on one surface of a control board 62 formed in a flat plate shape, and the signal detection circuit 42 and the scan corresponding to the radiation imaging layer 12 are arranged on the other surface of the control board 62. A signal control circuit 40 is arranged.

(Main part configuration)
Next, the arrangement of each portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 at the time of imaging, and the indicators 76 attached to the support plate 74 provided between the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 and the radiation source 70 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when performing long imaging using three portable radiography apparatuses 10, the lower end of the first housing 18 </ b> A of the first portable radiography apparatus 10 </ b> A. The upper end side of the second casing 18B of the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B is superposed on the rear surface side (the side opposite to the radiation incident side). Further, the upper end side of the third casing 18C of the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C is overlaid on the back side of the lower end side of the second casing 18B of the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B. Thereby, the three portable radiographic apparatuses 10 are arranged so as to widen the imaging range in the vertical direction, and long imaging is possible.

  Further, an imaging position for the subject 72 to be located is set between the radiation source 70 and the portable radiographic imaging apparatus 10 arranged in the vertical direction. Further, a plate-like support plate 74 extending in the vertical direction is provided between the subject 72 and the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10, and the subject 72 stands along the support plate 74.

  Further, the support plate 74 has an index 76A facing the first portable radiography apparatus 10A, an index 76B facing the second portable radiography apparatus 10B, and a third portable radiography apparatus 10C. An index 76C is attached so as to face each other. And each index 76A, 76B, 76C is made into the same circular shape.

  With this configuration, the distance from each index 76 to each portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 is different by the thickness of the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10. That is, the distance from the first index 76A to the first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A is the shortest, the distance from the second index 76B to the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B is the next shortest, and the third index 76C to the third The distance to the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C is the longest.

  Furthermore, a console 78 for controlling each portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 and the radiation source 70 is provided. The console 78 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 80 as an example of a determination unit. The processing executed by the CPU 80 will be described together with a flowchart shown in FIG.

(Action / Effect)
Next, processing performed by the CPU 80 of the console 78 in order to perform long imaging using the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable radiation imaging apparatuses 10 are arranged so that the end sides of the portable radiation imaging apparatuses 10 are overlapped and extend in the vertical direction. Further, the subject 72 stands along a support plate 74 provided in the subject 72 and the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, in step 100, the console 78 instructs the radiographing of the radiographic image by operating the photographer's control panel (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when radiographic image capturing is instructed, the radiation source 70 emits radiation having a radiation dose corresponding to a predetermined imaging condition or the like. The radiation emitted from the radiation source 70 passes through the subject 72 and each index 76 at the imaging position, and is applied to each portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 after carrying image information.

  That is, the first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A is irradiated with radiation that has passed through the first index 76A, and the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B is irradiated with radiation that has passed through the second index 76B. The portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C is irradiated with radiation that has passed through the third index 76C.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the radiation imaging layer 12, the irradiated radiation such as X-rays is converted into light by the scintillator 30 and irradiated to the sensor unit 14 (see FIG. 6) of the radiation imaging element 13. The sensor unit 14 receives the light emitted from the scintillator 30 and accumulates electric charges.

  As shown in FIG. 6, at the time of image reading, an ON signal (+10 to 20 V) is sequentially applied from the scan signal control circuit 40 to the gate electrode of the TFT switch 16 of the radiation imaging element 13 via the scanning wiring 22. As a result, when the TFT switch 16 of the radiation imaging element 13 is sequentially turned on, an electric signal corresponding to the amount of charge accumulated in the sensor unit 14 flows out to the signal wiring 24. The signal detection circuit 42 detects the amount of charge accumulated in each sensor unit 14 based on the electrical signal that has flowed out to the signal wiring 24 of the radiation imaging element 13 as information of each pixel 20 constituting the image. Thereby, image information indicating an image indicated by the radiation applied to the radiation imaging layer 12 is acquired. When all the image information is acquired, the process proceeds to step 200 shown in FIG. If not all image information can be acquired, step 100 is repeated to acquire all image information.

  In step 200, the magnitudes of the indices photographed in each image are compared. That is, the image information of the first index 76A captured by the first portable radiography apparatus 10A, the image information of the second index 76B captured by the second portable radiography apparatus 10B, and the third portable radiography. The image information of the third index 76C photographed by the device 10C is compared.

  As described above, the distance from the first index 76A to the first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A is the shortest, the distance from the second index 76B to the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B is the next shortest, and the third index 76C. To the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C is the longest.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first index image 82A of the first index 76A captured by the first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A is the smallest, as shown in FIG. 3B. The second index image 82B of the second index 76B photographed by the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B is the next smallest, and is photographed by the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C as shown in FIG. The third index image 82C of the third index 76C is the largest.

  Then, the first index image 82A, the second index image 82B, and the third index image 82C are compared in size, and the process proceeds to step 300 shown in FIG.

  In step 300, the connection order of each image is determined. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the image 84A captured by the first portable radiation imaging apparatus 10A having the smallest index image 82 is arranged on the top, and the second portable radiation having the next smallest index image 82. An image 84B photographed by the photographing apparatus 10B is arranged below the image 84C, and an image 84C photographed by the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C having the largest index image 82 is arranged at the bottom. In this manner, the connection order of the images 84 is determined, and the process proceeds to step 400.

  In step 400, the images 84 are superimposed (arranged) in the connection order determined in step 300 and stored, and the process ends.

  As described above, when a long image is obtained using a plurality of portable radiography apparatuses 10, the order of connection of the images 84 is compared by comparing the sizes of the index images 82 captured in the images 84. Can be determined.

  In addition, a plurality of portable radiographic imaging devices 10 are stacked at the end and arranged to widen the imaging range, so that the distance from the index 76 to each portable radiographic imaging device 10 can be determined by the portable radiographic imaging device 10. The thickness can be varied.

  Further, by making the distance between each portable radiography apparatus 10 and the index 76 different and making each index 76 have the same shape, the size of the index image 82 photographed by each portable radiography apparatus 10 is made different. be able to.

  Next, an example of a portable radiation imaging apparatus system and program according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same member as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the portable radiographic apparatus system 90 according to the second embodiment, on the surface side (radiation incident side) on the lower end side of the first casing 18A of the first portable radiographic apparatus 10A. The upper end side of the second casing 18B of the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B is overlapped. Further, the upper end side of the third casing 18C of the third portable radiation imaging apparatus 10C is overlapped with the surface side of the lower end side of the second casing 18B of the second portable radiation imaging apparatus 10B. Thereby, the three portable radiographic apparatuses 10 are arranged so as to widen the imaging range in the vertical direction, and long imaging is possible.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to the contractor. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given using the three portable radiographic imaging apparatuses 10, but the number is not particularly limited to three, and may be two, or may be four or more. Good.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated using X-rays as a radiation, it is not specifically limited to this, A gamma ray etc. may be sufficient.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the portable radiography apparatus systems 64 and 90 were used for the long imaging | photography in a standing state, you may use a portable radiography apparatus system for the long imaging | photography in a standing position. . In this case, it is possible to perform long imaging by arranging each portable radiation imaging apparatus so as to extend in the horizontal direction.

  In the above embodiment, the radiation source 70, the subject 72, the index 76, and the portable radiation imaging apparatus 10 are arranged in this order. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the radiation source 70 to the index 76, the subject 72, You may arrange | position in order of the portable radiography apparatus 10. FIG.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the parameter | index 76 as the same shape, it is not specifically limited to the same shape, A different shape may be sufficient and a test subject's skeleton may be sufficient.

  In the above-described embodiment, the index image 82 is photographed on the center side of the image 84. However, the index image 82 is not particularly limited to the center side, and may be the end side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10A 1st portable radiography apparatus 10B 2nd portable radiography apparatus 10C 3rd portable radiography apparatus 64 Portable radiography apparatus system 70 Radiation source 74 Support plate (support member)
76A First index 76B Second index 76C Third index 80 CPU (discriminating means, computer)
90 Portable radiography system

Claims (5)

A radiation source that emits radiation;
At least two or more portable radiographic imaging devices that are arranged so as to output a radiographic image by irradiation of radiation from the radiation source and are arranged so as to be overlapped at an end portion to widen an imaging range;
An index provided separately for each portable radiographic apparatus between the radiation source and each portable radiographic apparatus,
Compare the size of the index photographed by each portable radiographic apparatus by irradiation of radiation from the radiation source, and determine the connection order of the images photographed by each portable radiographic apparatus. Discrimination means;
A portable radiography system comprising: The portable radiation imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein a support member to which the index is attached is provided between the radiation source and the portable radiation imaging apparatus. 3. The portable radiographic system according to claim 1 , wherein each index has the same shape and a distance between the portable radiographic apparatus and each index is different. The portable radiography system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the indices has a different size. Computer
The radiation source imaged by at least two or more portable radiation imaging devices that are overlapped at the end and arranged to widen the imaging range by irradiation of radiation from a radiation source that irradiates radiation, and each of the portable types Comparison means for comparing the size of an index separately provided for each of the portable radiographic apparatuses with a radiographic apparatus ;
A discriminating means for discriminating a connection order of images taken by each of the portable radiographic apparatuses based on the index taken by each of the portable radiographic apparatuses;
Program to function as.

Images